1925
Many of the Boston "regulars" missed an entertaining evening when the Alumni Association held its annual dinner. Jock Brace and Lew White (at the head table), Larry Leavitt from Norwich, Jake Penney from Worcester, and Johnny Garrod, Don Hunt, Chet Eaton and yours truly from Greater Boston represented the class. At the adjoining two tables was the class of 1923, which won the attendance cup with a count of twenty members. The proverbial "insult" was added to "injury" with the distribution of match cards identifying '23 as "a great class!" '25 up! !
Ed Burns was reported as having sold his canning business and retired to a state of unemployment - and is looking for a job - preferably as captain of a luxury cruiser.
Maybe with the advent of warmer temperatures the Boston group will come out of their hibernating quarters and gather together for the annual dinner to be held at the Motel 128, Dedham, on Friday, May 12 - wives expected, naturally. Anyone outside the area who plans to be in the vicinity at the time should plan to be present. Just notify Jake (Cyril F.) Penney at 16 Kenilworth Road, Worcester, Mass.
Dud Smith writes in response to a note: "I am still in the practice of architecture in Denver. Our two older children are married and away from home. Dudley Jr. is at He-bron Academy in Maine and hopes to enter Dartmouth in 1962. Ruth and I recently moved to the country and enjoy it very much. I still ski occasionally. We visited Morocco last year and are just back from Guatemala."
Bob Misch is at it again - lecturing on oenology, first at Yale, then Harvard and Princeton. He reports that "a couple of us '25-ers managed to get together last week in the New York Times Book Review, where I was able to appraise a few culinary volumes in the pages of Brownie's austere publication."
In addition to his activity in the field of music Paul Hexter also spends a great deal of his time in civic work. He's chairman of the City Planning Committee of the Miami Beach Tax Payers Association. His interest in golf is clearly reflected in his own words: "I love to play golf and extend a cordial invitation to any '25sers who are down this way and who are still able to walk to join me in a few rounds. The best round I ever had in my life was in Gleneagles, Scotland two years ago when I had a 68 and won the Sma Siller Vessel. Lest this scare away any potential prospects for a golf round please be advised that this was two years ago and I am a six-handicapper today. I also am secretary of the Miami Golf Association which runs a lot of tournaments over the summer time." Other golfers in the class doubtless will view the foregoing invitation in the same light as your scribe's, namely, with X strokes!
A letter from Stan Smith is somewhat lengthy for this publication; but it contains items of sufficient significance to justify the space and it is doubtful if Herb Talbot's modesty would permit its use in the Roundup. So -
Herb Talbot is so humble and modest about his professional accomplishments that he may not report to you about his visit to Rockford this week. As some of you may know, Al Sparks and I have been deeply interested in Rockford Memorial Hospital for many years. We have a beautiful and efficient new plant with an outstanding staff - but, like most hospitals, we are already planning another large addition. We will have a complete rehabilitation unit as a part of this new addition.
Herb is recognized as a world leader in physical rehabilitation so it was a happy logical choice when he was invited by our staff to give the seventh annual Smith Memorial lecture series. Incidentally, the six preceding lecturers have also been world renowned in their respective fields. To say that he inspired our staff and trustees would be an understatement. He gave them a lucid technical interpretation and concept of physical rehabilitation, which will serve as the cornerstone around which we can build the staff and facilities to implement such a service. It may well make history in the new community approach to this national problem.
Many of us in the class are cognizant of Herb's breadth of vision, his philosophical views and his ability to give expression to such thoughts in delightful diction. To a Rockford audience, whose previous impression of a Dartmouth 1925 graduate had been conditioned by Sparks' and Smith's ninth grade English and confused logic, it was a startling revelation to observe that the Class of 1925 did turn out at least one outstanding scholar and humanitarian of whom the College could very well be proud. In typical Talbot manner, Herb has suggested that the usual honorarium, which would be due the visiting lecturer, be sent to the Alumni Fund as a "starting gun" for 1925's drive this year.
Betty and I returned last week from the Virgin Islands, where - on one of our previous visits - we "staked out" part of an island offshore from St. Thomas as a future homesite. Next week we start out again - this time to Texas and Mexico, and will end up at our place on Hillsboro Beach near Pompano, Fla., for a few weeks. The Sparkses will be down in March.
You will recall last fall the Ford Wheldens entertained members of the Class at their home following the Holy Cross football game and the group got together under the guidance of Marty Huberth to present them with a gift as an expression of appreciation for their kind hospitality. It was not until recently that the names of those who contributed toward purchase of the gift were disclosed, whereupon Gertie wrote as follows: "You '25ers gave Ford and me a great surprise the day Dris stopped in with the very handsome silver ice bucket. How good of you and how we will treasure your gift through the years."
Ben Werntz has a sharp sense of economy - as manifested by his reply to a note: "No sense wasting your stamp. No change in status. No time to build in sandpile we bought in Ft. Lauderdale for that purpose. Retirement not in sight. No civic virtues. Hobbies cancelled because of age." Woody Wilson with the same brevity writes: "Still heading up N. E. District for G. E. Major Appliances (Television and Stereo Phonographs) - now in my 23rd year. Just returned from Hawaii. Beautiful spot. Both daughters married - one to Brown man, other Yale. Have two wonderful grandchildren and expect a couple more very soon."
Walter Vom Lehn was feted at a luncheon by about fifty friends and colleagues from the New York City Board of Education on the occasion of his retirement effective March 1, 1961. Walter announced that he and his wife, Helene, would take a trip to Europe in April.
Secretary, 225 Wyman St., Waltham 54, Mass.
Class Agent, Elm St., Norwich, Vt.
